Class Reunion of Murder (3 page)

“Riley, this isn’t you. Everyone likes you.”

She shook her head. “No, his church hates me. His family is going to hate me, too. I can already tell.”

Lacy grasped her shoulders and gave her a little shake. “Stop. You are Riley Steele, er, Riley Underwood.”

Her mini pep talk only made Riley cry harder. “That’s the worst last name in the world. I sound like a funeral home. Just leave me alone so I can go to sleep.”

“No. Riley, you can’t stay here. You are married now. Go home to your husband and stop running away every time you have a fight.”

“There’s nowhere to go in that apartment,” Riley moaned. “Not even a closet. I hate it there.”

“We can move you to Barbara’s place as soon as possible,” Lacy soothed. “You can oversee the remodeling and decorating.”

“Redecorating?” Riley said. She sat up and sniffed.

“Yes, loads of it. The whole house needs done.”

“Redecorating is fun,” she said.

“See? You have lots of work to do. Everything is going to be okay, but you need to go home. Talk to Tosh, tell him about the house, see if you can work out a budget for the remodel.”

Her sister’s expression darkened at the word “budget,” but she didn’t argue. Instead she slid off the bed and stood. She took a step toward the door, but Lacy stopped her. “Maybe you want to pop into the bathroom and freshen up a little before you go,” she suggested. Riley was a mess.

Riley nodded. Lacy followed her to the bathroom and watched while she splashed her face and reapplied some makeup. She ignored her hair which was a grave error because it sprung all over her head like a billboard for Crazytown. “Let me fix that for you,” Lacy said. She gathered her sister’s hair in a ponytail and secured it at the nape of her neck. “There you go.”

“Are there cupcakes?” Riley asked.

“Grandma left some,” Lacy said.

Riley followed her to the kitchen. Lacy showed her the cupcake stash and watched in horror as Riley picked up the entire container and tucked it under her arm. “Thanks,” she mumbled, then she let herself out without a word to Jason.

“What was that?” Jason asked.

“That was the version of
Freaky Friday
where my sister and I trade places. Seriously, I don’t think those cupcakes are even going to make it to her apartment. I’ve never seen her like that.”

“You would think that marrying a stranger you barely know for money would have a happier ending,” Jason said.

“I know, it’s almost like that wasn’t a good idea or something,” Lacy agreed.

Jason patted the couch beside him. “Where were we?” Lacy sat, and his phone buzzed. She knew by his expression as he reached for it that it was work and the news wouldn’t be good.

“Let me guess: you have to go,” she said.

He nodded. “I’m sorry. There’s a warrant-related standoff. Hold my place. We’ll pick it up where we left off.” He kissed her, and then he was gone. Lacy sat on the couch feeling bored and bereft with no Jason, no Tosh, no grandparents, and no cupcakes. In desperation, she frantically searched the cupboards for a snack. Finding nothing suitable, she settled on a container of chocolate sprinkles.

Armed with sprinkles and a spoon, she nestled into the couch for a long night of infomercials.

Three days later, Lacy was helping Riley and Tosh move into Barbara Blake’s house when a surprise visitor showed up.

“Keegan,” Lacy yelled. She dropped her box and rushed forward as Keegan stepped from the apartment. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Neither did I. We’re all very last minute and spontaneous in this family, apparently,” he said. Her feet left the floor as he gave her a bear hug. “You’re looking even more gorgeous than I remember. How is that possible?”

“I was thinking the same about you. What is the likelihood that the Catholic church will let priests marry?”

“If you’re asking, then I’ll work on it. I mean peace be with you, my child. I’ve got to work on my response to you. By the way, rumor has it you’re dating the surly cop now. Is he as friendly as ever?”

“He’s a great guy who only has an adverse reaction to Underwoods,” Lacy explained.

“How odd,” Keegan said. “So, I guess we’re sort of related now. I did not see that coming.”

“I don’t think Nostradamus could have seen this coming,” Lacy said.

“Maybe. He was pretty good at calling disasters,” Keegan said. “Do you think Tosh is acting sort of…?”

“Crazy,” Lacy finished. “Riley, too. You don’t know her, but this is definitely not her at her finest.”

“I’m glad I’m at the point in my training where I’ve already learned how to administer last rites. I think they’re both going to need it by the time this is over,” Keegan said.

“Are you just here to help them move?”

“No, I am the official family envoy, sent to check out Riley and report her level of insanity back to the rest of the family.”

“Hold off on that,” Lacy said. “You’re really seeing her at her worst. She’s usually crazy, but in a different kind of way, the kind that makes men want to buy her pretty things.”

“Duly noted. I’m also heading up the home renovation team. I have some cousins and some of our crew coming in. We’re going to knock out the project in less than a week. The happy couple shouldn’t be here, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to send them back to that rat-trap apartment together.”

“They can stay at the hotel. Riley will want to be there for the reunion anyway, I think. Who knows anymore? Anyway, maybe it will be like a little honeymoon.”

Before Keegan could reply, there came the sound of shattering glass and Tosh yelling. “Riley, that came this close to hitting me in the head.”

“I’ve always had bad aim,” Riley screamed. “Next time I’ll hit it for sure.”

“Honeymoon, yes. I should probably go drag them to their corners,” Keegan said. He turned and went inside.

Lacy focused on drudge work to avoid the temptation to get involved. Keegan was at his most diplomatic and soon had everyone on peaceful terms once again. How long it would last Lacy didn’t know and tried not to care.
None of my business,
she reminded herself, although she did have to insert herself into the scene in order to suggest moving to the hotel during the renovation. Riley perked up a little at the mention of the reunion.

“I forgot about the reunion. Will you go?” Riley looked up at Tosh with big eyes.

“Well, yeah, if you really want me to,” he answered. “Do you?”

“Yes,” she said.

Keegan and Lacy exchanged a look. “Spooky,” Keegan mouthed. Lacy nodded her agreement. Riley sounded uncertain and Tosh belligerent. What was going on with them? Had Tosh learned about Riley’s money situation already? Did he resent being saddled with her? That might explain his behavior, but not hers. Something was up with them, and Lacy couldn’t figure it out. The temptation to stick her nose into their tempestuous relationship was strong and becoming stronger. She had to resist. Nothing good would come out of sticking her fingers in their mess.

“I should go. I’m meeting Kimber,” she said.

“I was hoping we could hang out,” Keegan said.
Don’t leave me alone with them,
his eyes pled.

“Maybe later,” Lacy said. “I promised to meet Kimber as soon as she gets into town.” She kissed Keegan’s cheek. Tosh regarded her with sullen eyes. Previously, she would have hugged him goodbye. Those days were over, at least for a while. He had moved from best friend to brother-in-law with no transition, and the shift felt awkward. She didn’t plan to hug Riley, but the plan changed when Riley grabbed her and held on tightly. Lacy gave a few halfhearted back pats and exchanged another look with Keegan, but Keegan had no idea how out of character this was. When was the last time Riley had given her a real hug? Probably sometime around her fourth birthday. “I’ll see you,” she added. “Call if you need anything.”

Riley nodded, sniffled, and wiped her eyes. Lacy was suddenly unwilling to leave. Riley looked so lost. Her new demeanor was inspiring all sorts of long-dormant sisterly feelings in Lacy. “Be nice to her,” she blurted to Tosh who now also looked wounded.

“We’ll see you later,” Keegan said. He bustled her from the house.

“Thanks for the rescue,” Lacy said when they were on the porch.

“Don’t get sucked in,” Keegan said. He gave her shoulders a little shake.

“You’re right. I lost sight of that for a second.”

“Call me whenever you need a reminder. Or a pep talk. Or a make out buddy. Strike that last part. You’re kryptonite to me, woman.”

Lacy chuckled. He was joking, or at least she thought he was joking. He was smiling, so she took it as a joke. “You have no idea how depressing it is that my backup plan is a priest,” she said.

“You have no idea how depressing it is that my backup plan isn’t even in love with me. If this priest thing doesn’t work out, I would have to steal you away from your cop and win you over.”

“If this cop thing doesn’t work out, I would have to steal you away from God,” Lacy pointed out.

“You win,” Keegan said. He gave her another crushing hug and then a little shove toward the driveway. “Hit the bricks. Hey, when are you going to buy a car like normal people?”

“Soon,” Lacy lied. She still had no desire for a car. What she wanted was a motorcycle. Ever since her ride on Michael’s bike, the desire had taken root deep in her heart. She hadn’t confessed her secret dream to anyone, not even Jason. Especially not Jason. She could only imagine his reaction if she told him she wanted to buy a motorcycle. She was also a little frightened of the prospect. She wasn’t very good at driving manual cars. How would she handle shifting on a bike? Michael wouldn’t let her touch his further than being a passenger. How would she ever learn if there was no one to teach her? Did Jason know how to drive a motorcycle? She hadn’t asked him. If she did, then he would know what she was thinking. Maybe Keegan knew how. He would teach her; he was up for any adventure.

She arrived at Kimber’s house just as she was pulling into the driveway. Kimber was the closest female friend Lacy ever had. Now that they were sprinting toward each other, arms outstretched, she wondered why they had lost contact the last few years.

“Hey, girl, you look good,” Kimber said when the crushing hug was finished. “Moving back to Mayberry agrees with you.”

“And you look like you just fell off the cover of
Ebony.
” She touched Kimber’s ponytail, a voluminous mass of tiny braids. The sophisticated woman before her was a far cry from the fuzzy-haired college freshman she had been. Somehow the two had gone their whole lives knowing each other without really knowing each other. At college, they discovered a shared feeling of always being on the outside. Lacy had existed alone in her little world of books while Kimber had been the sole black student in their school. The only thing they had in common was being from the same place, and yet somehow they had clicked. Almost as soon as school began, they became inseparable, a state that lasted all four years of college. They had been late bloomers together, shedding baby weight, gaining fashion sense and social skills together. Kimber began reaching out to a culture that had been a mystery to her, and she dragged Lacy along for the ride.

“I want to see your building,” Kimber said. “I still can’t believe you bought a building and didn’t tell me.”

“I did tell you,” Lacy said.

“Immediately,” Kimber clarified.

“Oh, well, a lot has been going on.” She hadn’t told Kimber everything; in fact, she had barely scratched the surface.

“For future reference, you can’t call up someone you haven’t talked to in almost a year and start with ‘I inherited a million dollars and bought an old building.’”

“I led with the least interesting detail,” Lacy said. Kimber laughed, but Lacy was serious. Getting over Robert, finding herself, and connecting with Jason were the most monumental portions of her new life, and she hadn’t mentioned them. They had a few days to do nothing but talk. Telling Kimber about Jason in person would be more fun.

“Where are you going?” Kimber asked when Lacy headed away from the car.

“It’s only a few blocks to the Stakely Building.”

“What? Who are you and what have you done with my Lacy? Where’s the girl who once hired a taxi to take her next door?”

“I had a twisted ankle,” Lacy said.

“You always had a twisted ankle, and you always hated exercise. Don’t tell me you’ve become a health nut.”

“No way. But I do like to walk places. It makes me feel connected to the town.”

Kimber made a show of looking around. “Connected to the town? Why would you want to be connected to the town? We couldn’t wait to get out of this town.”

“It’s different now,” Lacy said.

“Different how?” Kimber asked.

“I sort of feel responsible for stuff now, like it’s my job to make the town better.”

Kimber blinked at her. “Whose Kool-Aid are you drinking? Lacy, this town is a place where you pause, not a place where you put down roots.”

“Your parents put roots here,” Lacy pointed out.

“Yeah, well my parents got a lot of things wrong, didn’t they?” Kimber said.

Being adopted by white parents hadn’t been an issue for her until she went to college and connected with non-white people for the first time. Since then, she had been harboring a simmering resentment toward her parents. Lacy had once tried to point out that Mr. and Mrs. Vance had done their best by being colorblind, by not instilling any racial divides in their daughter. Kimber didn’t see it the same way. She felt her parents had purposely insulated her from her African-American heritage. In the intervening years, she had immersed herself in the culture she hadn’t known, sometimes to the exclusion of her adopted family. As far as Lacy knew, this was Kimber’s first visit home since college.

They were on the steps of the StakelyBuilding when Kimber grabbed Lacy’s arm and froze. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she whispered.

“What? What is it?” Lacy asked.